RESIDENTS and shopkeepers have launched a petition to ban street drinkers from their area.

The petition, which is aiming to collect 1,000 signatures, was started by residents in Lowther Street, Penley Grove Street and Townend Street in The Groves last month.

Recently, a new Alcohol Restriction Zone (ARZ), was created which meant drinking on the streets within the city walls and at York railway station was prohibited, with early indications showing a drop in police call outs by almost 25 per cent, but those supporting the petition said the ARZ had forced street drinkers out of the city and into their area.

Gordon Campbell-Thomas is manager of the Its Donated charity shop in Lowther Street, and said more than 200 people had already signed the petition in the two weeks since it was started.

He said: "I was told by a number of shop keepers, some who have been in business for over 30 years, that the Groves area has deteriorated. The local community cannot put up with this any longer.

“Without the necessary legislation police are facing an uphill task. The city within the bar walls has been designated a 'No Alcohol Area' which gives police the right to confiscate alcohol from street drinkers, but the area around Lowther Street and adjoining streets is excluded, and due to the presence of the Arc Light hostel and cheap booze shops, there seems to be a rise in street drinking.

Jane Mowat, City of York Council’s Head of Community Safety, said: "The petition and its proposals will be considered in the same way we would any other similar request and, in the meantime, we are working with North Yorkshire Police to look at the situation in the Groves in more detail and in the light of the new ARZ."

Mr Campbell-Thomas said: "When we have a 1000 plus signatures we will call a public meeting to see what the Council is going to do in response to the peoples petition."

The petition is available to sign in shops around the area, and volunteers are wanted to take the petition door to door to help collect signatures. Anyone interested in taking part can contact Mr Campbell-Thomas at the Its Donated charity shop, or phone 07794706961.

Comments (16)

Instead of having to create legislation to STOP street drinking, why not impose a city-wide ban on it and then require communities to apply for special permission to actually allow it? What's so wrong with society these days that drinking alcohol in the street is acceptable anyway? It obviously gets out of hand, hence the concern. A properly moderated pub garden or a special event , like a street party, would get permission, but why should we think the drinking of alcohol in public places is a god-given right?

Here's a thought.
Instead of having to create legislation to STOP street drinking, why not impose a city-wide ban on it and then require communities to apply for special permission to actually allow it? What's so wrong with society these days that drinking alcohol in the street is acceptable anyway? It obviously gets out of hand, hence the concern. A properly moderated pub garden or a special event , like a street party, would get permission, but why should we think the drinking of alcohol in public places is a god-given right?Ignatius Lumpopo

Whenever Mr Thomas (I knew him before he had a hyphen) is in the paper, I always ask myself, "what's in it for Gordon?"

Another thought: I noticed this petition on the counter in Spar yesterday, whilst to my left one of said alleged "street-drinkers" waited patiently to be served.

Looks like the shopkeepers want it both ways.

I shan't be signing their pathetic petition.

Whenever Mr Thomas (I knew him before he had a hyphen) is in the paper, I always ask myself, "what's in it for Gordon?"
Another thought: I noticed this petition on the counter in Spar yesterday, whilst to my left one of said alleged "street-drinkers" waited patiently to be served.
Looks like the shopkeepers want it both ways.
I shan't be signing their pathetic petition.Fat Harry

I am sure its against some law or bye laws that Alcohol drinking on streets and public (that"s Parts and in the streets and public building that do not have a Drinking Licence. As for the Groves area, one or two blocks of flats are a little scary,

And yes I did once live in the Groves area..

City wide enforcement please

I am sure its against some law or bye laws that Alcohol drinking on streets and public (that"s Parts and in the streets and public building that do not have a Drinking Licence. As for the Groves area, one or two blocks of flats are a little scary,
And yes I did once live in the Groves area..
City wide enforcement pleaseDave Ruddock

TravelQueen wrote:
I saw a young couple stumble out of the spar yesterday with a roll of foil. I'm guessing they weren't rushing home to whip up a betty crocker cake.

Brilliant

[quote][p][bold]TravelQueen[/bold] wrote:
I saw a young couple stumble out of the spar yesterday with a roll of foil. I'm guessing they weren't rushing home to whip up a betty crocker cake.[/p][/quote]Brilliantmalonemalone

Two positives from this. The first that the ban has, where in place seemingly been effective. I witnessed a CSO shifting a couple of boozers from Exhibition Square last week. Second, local people are agitating to get things done. Ignatius is correct though, a City of York-wide ban on drinking in public should be introduced. A tighter cintrol on the sale and price of the stuff wouldn't be a bad idea too. I am not teetotal.

Two positives from this. The first that the ban has, where in place seemingly been effective. I witnessed a CSO shifting a couple of boozers from Exhibition Square last week. Second, local people are agitating to get things done. Ignatius is correct though, a City of York-wide ban on drinking in public should be introduced. A tighter cintrol on the sale and price of the stuff wouldn't be a bad idea too. I am not teetotal.bloodaxe

What the hell is wrong with drinking on the street.These stupid blanket bans stop anyone from carrying a can of beer or a glass.It's ridiculous this demonisation of drinking.The Police put too many resources into it.Try and get a policeman at any other time of the day.I don't know what the agenda is.But protecting commercial property and demonising behaviour as anti social is the first step.In the wrong direction.

What the hell is wrong with drinking on the street.These stupid blanket bans stop anyone from carrying a can of beer or a glass.It's ridiculous this demonisation of drinking.The Police put too many resources into it.Try and get a policeman at any other time of the day.I don't know what the agenda is.But protecting commercial property and demonising behaviour as anti social is the first step.In the wrong direction.allthingsconsidered

The drinking people need help need love. I am ready to help.I am a pastor living on Groves.I know how to help in this problem.I would like to meet someone from Council and talk about it.
Any contact with me carrson@wp.pl

The drinking people need help need love. I am ready to help.I am a pastor living on Groves.I know how to help in this problem.I would like to meet someone from Council and talk about it.
Any contact with me carrson@wp.plcarrson

The city within the bar walls might have been declared a no drinking area, but that doesn't mean that there is no drinking. The area between Hope St and George St is liberally littered with empty special brew cans. I actually saw my Mother with one in each hand, which gave me pause for thought, but she was just picking them up as she was sick of them lying about.......or so she told me!

The city within the bar walls might have been declared a no drinking area, but that doesn't mean that there is no drinking. The area between Hope St and George St is liberally littered with empty special brew cans. I actually saw my Mother with one in each hand, which gave me pause for thought, but she was just picking them up as she was sick of them lying about.......or so she told me!Lamplighter

Fat Harry wrote:
Whenever Mr Thomas (I knew him before he had a hyphen) is in the paper, I always ask myself, &quot;what's in it for Gordon?"

Another thought: I noticed this petition on the counter in Spar yesterday, whilst to my left one of said alleged "street-drinkers" waited patiently to be served.

Looks like the shopkeepers want it both ways.

I shan't be signing their pathetic petition.

How did you know they were a street drinker. Waiting patiently without causing any fuss doesn't sound like the usual's down lowther street. Also I think your missing the point here. The petition is to stop them from drinking down the street not stop people from buying alcohol. At the spar we refuse many people daily who are known to cause problems in the street. The problem here is that on a daily basis now there's people scared to walk down their own street due to the rudeness and aggression displayed by most of the drunks in the street. I myself have had to stop one guy from screaming at a child who hadn't a clue what was going on. These people on the streets are making people have to divert their usual routes to get to their local shops or even just to walk down the street, kids are been forced to see people falling over, public acts of violence and even people voiding their bowels in the street. It is not currently an environment where people feel safe. The petition is what it is. A plea to stop people not only drinking in the street but to also stop the drunk horrendous abuse these people are giving other people in the street.

[quote][p][bold]Fat Harry[/bold] wrote:
Whenever Mr Thomas (I knew him before he had a hyphen) is in the paper, I always ask myself, "what's in it for Gordon?"
Another thought: I noticed this petition on the counter in Spar yesterday, whilst to my left one of said alleged "street-drinkers" waited patiently to be served.
Looks like the shopkeepers want it both ways.
I shan't be signing their pathetic petition.[/p][/quote]How did you know they were a street drinker. Waiting patiently without causing any fuss doesn't sound like the usual's down lowther street. Also I think your missing the point here. The petition is to stop them from drinking down the street not stop people from buying alcohol. At the spar we refuse many people daily who are known to cause problems in the street. The problem here is that on a daily basis now there's people scared to walk down their own street due to the rudeness and aggression displayed by most of the drunks in the street. I myself have had to stop one guy from screaming at a child who hadn't a clue what was going on. These people on the streets are making people have to divert their usual routes to get to their local shops or even just to walk down the street, kids are been forced to see people falling over, public acts of violence and even people voiding their bowels in the street. It is not currently an environment where people feel safe. The petition is what it is. A plea to stop people not only drinking in the street but to also stop the drunk horrendous abuse these people are giving other people in the street.MR ADIE

It appears that the MAJORITY of people who cause the problems are those in receipt of state benefits.
If these people had to carry out community work to qualify for their benefits then they would not have the time to drink on the streets and cause the problems.
If not solved the problem would be considerably eased.

It appears that the MAJORITY of people who cause the problems are those in receipt of state benefits.
If these people had to carry out community work to qualify for their benefits then they would not have the time to drink on the streets and cause the problems.
If not solved the problem would be considerably eased.the-e-man